author's note : it has been so fun to experiment with writing in the point of view of many different characters throughout the journey that this fic has been, and jay is no exception! he's one of my very favorite ninjago characters, and i really think that we have a lot in common, so between those two things (and the fact that he's so fun to write!) i have really enjoyed getting to feature him in 'emergence' from here on into the rest of the story as we inch our way toward the pilot episodes!

trigger warnings : extremely brief mentions of/references to bullying.

words : 6,677

another quick note: i am very excited to announce that 'emergence' is like 200 reads away from reaching 3k reads as i'm typing this, which blows my mind! i'm so grateful for how far we've come and for all of your support! i have a couple ideas for something i could do for a 3k reads special, but i'd love to hear any ideas that you may have, so if there's something you think could be fun, please drop a comment (preferably in the comments section, though inline here could work too) and let me know! can't wait to celebrate this milestone with you!

chapter seven : i can tell that we are gonna be friends

Jay Walker was an introvert, at least that's what he called himself. He was also an inventor, though most of his inventions didn't seem to work most of the time. He was better at model building and tinkering, and was actually quite good at fixing a large variety of things. Living in a junkyard, he had always found plenty of things to work with, whether he used them for one of his inventions, or just tried taking them apart to see how they worked. He was also a fairly good cook, at least for someone who liked eating fast food most of the time. His mom was insistent that he learned to cook at least some things himself, and that being able to make a healthy home-cooked meal was an important life skill to have, and under her watchful eye he had become a surprisingly decent cook. And he also dabbled in poetry, though he wasn't great at it.

Most of Jay's life was spent helping his parents out around the junkyard or running errands, and when he wasn't helping with things or spending time with them, he spent most of his free time playing video games, watching action movies, or reading comics. He'd had a fairly simple life, though he often longed for some sort of excitement. There weren't a lot of other kids that lived near the Walker's trailer in the junkyard, and most of the ones that did either ignored Jay completely or teased him. They often made fun of the fact that he lived in a junkyard, or his name, and pretty much anything else that they could think of. That was one of the main reasons that Jay preferred to keep to himself and stay at the junkyard, hiding his insecurities and occasional loneliness behind his most current invention or a comic book.

But one day when Jay had been out in Ninjago City testing a glider of sorts, he had crashed into a sign after the sixth failed test run, but to his surprise he then stumbled upon an incredible opportunity. An old man had been seated on the rooftop of the building that he had fallen onto, calmly drinking tea, before he looked up at Jay with a smile as he began to speak. He then invited the auburn-haired boy to join him as he attempted to build the impossible, and had later revealed that he had the potential to become part of something bigger. Of an adventure.

Jay had almost immediately said yes, and the older man had seemed pleased by his response. He had then given him instructions to return to the same place tomorrow afternoon, with whatever things he would like to bring with him to last several months. Just as Jay had gathered the broken pieces of his invention together and was turning back to thank the man for his invitation, he had vanished. Feeling confused as well as excited, the auburn-haired boy had quickly returned home and explained everything to his parents. Surprisingly, they hadn't needed much convincing to let him go, but had just told him to be careful, to try and have a good time, and to be himself no matter what happened.

That was how he had ended up here on the faded and dusty path that wove through the countryside and several fields and meadows, with an excited spring in his step and a heavy blue duffel bag slung over his shoulder as he walked beside the man that had introduced himself as Sensei Wu. The afternoon sun was high overhead as the two continued their journey, and silence settled between them, though Jay's excitement regarding the day's events, as well as his curiosity about what could be coming, was almost like electricity sparking through the air around him, invisible, but an almost infectious energy. This was quite possibly the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him.

Wu was the exact opposite of course, calm and collected, and seemed to be in no hurry to get to wherever it was they were going. Every now and then he would look at the auburn-haired boy beside him, a soft smile on his face and an amused twinkle in his gentle blue eyes. He hadn't answered many of Jay's questions, at least not yet, and the answers that he had given weren't very helpful or informative. The older man had said that while they were on the way he would explain where it was that they were going, but so far, he had made no move to begin his explanation, and Jay was beginning to feel just a little bit impatient. But he didn't want to just bombard the older man with questions, so he waited.

Perhaps that was what Wu wanted, maybe this was some kind of test to prove that he was worthy of whatever quest he would be sent on, or perhaps just to test his patience. That thought cheered Jay up a little, and he was able to remain quiet for several more moments, trying to imagine that he was setting off on some adventure to save the world. Or perhaps just Ninjago, at the very most. Despite Jay's great gift of imagination, he was unable to come up with a reason why the older man had chosen him, just a simple boy from a junkyard, to be part in whatever he was doing. Some of his excitement faded, replaced by a sense of nervousness. Was he qualified for whatever task he was about to undertake? What if Wu had made a mistake, and this was all just a big misunderstanding? Maybe there was someone else that should-

"I'm sure that you are wondering why I have invited you to join me." Sensei Wu's soft voice startled Jay out of his thoughts, and the auburn-haired boy shook his head slightly as he attempted to clear his mind, suddenly crashing back to reality. He nodded, chuckling nervously as he turned his attention back to the older man beside him, trying to gather together his scattered thoughts and give Wu his full attention.

"Uh, yeah! I was wondering...that." Jay replied with a sheepish smile, fidgeting with the strap of his blue duffel bag while he ran his other hand through his hair self-consciously. He couldn't help but feel that whatever Wu was about to tell him, it was likely something that was important, something that could change his life forever. Junkyard boy or not, qualified for the task or not, he'd accepted the older man's offer to go along with whatever this was, and there was no turning back now. That thought scared him, even though he still felt excited at the same time.

Almost as if he sensed Jay's nervousness and fear, Sensei Wu gave him a reassuring smile. He looked down at Jay and as their blue eyes met, the auburn-haired boy suddenly felt a bit calmer, and somehow less scared of whatever the older man was about to tell him. A more relaxed smile settled onto his face as they continued to walk down the faded path, the sun shining warmly on them both as Wu began to speak.

"I have introduced myself as Sensei Wu, but other than that I have not told you much else, whether about the part that you will have to play, or about myself. I am a ninja master, and have mastered the art of Spinjitzu, while I am also one of the few remaining Elemental Masters. After many years I have finally come to the decision to train several gifted students to become part of a new generation of ninja and Elemental Masters, to whom I will pass on my skills. They will train to become masters of Spinjitzu, as well as Ninjago's protectors, and will fight to preserve the balance of light and darkness, good and evil. The things that hold together the very existence not just of Ninjago, but of life itself."

This was one of the few moments that Jay found himself speechless, the list of other such moments being quite short. No matter what mood he was in or how he felt, he could almost always come up with something to say that would go with the occasion. He'd also inherited his parent's sense of humor, and it came in quite handy with coming up with witty retorts and replies to things. But in this particular moment, he couldn't bring himself to say anything, he was so captivated by what Sensei Wu was telling him. It sounded like something out of a story. Generations of ninja, the ancient art of.... whatever that was called, people called Elemental Masters, a sensei growing old and deciding to train several students to follow in his footsteps and save the world, it all sounded like something that would have come out of an adventure story.

Jay was so caught up in what Sensei Wu was saying that he lost track of anything else but the story and his thoughts, until something suddenly occurred to him. Something that was both thrilling and terrifying all at the same time. Sensei Wu had said that there was a part for him to play in all of this. Had he meant that Jay would have a part to play in the whole 'fighting to preserve the balance' thing? Like, as one of his students? One of the students that he was going to train as a ninja? He'd asked Jay to help him as he attempted to build the impossible, this certainly seemed pretty impossible. Though at the same time, it almost sounded like something that would happen in a circumstance like this. A young boy that didn't seem to fit in with everyone else, who longed for adventure and wanted to do more than just the simple tasks that he had to perform, and was suddenly visited by an old man who promised him the chance to become something much more. Did he really have the potential to become a ninja? One that would learn various skills and would be tasked with the protection of his homeland from corruption?

With those thoughts now running through his head, Jay found himself lost in a sense of excitement and hope. He tried to imagine what could be ahead of him, what things he would learn on this fateful day. Only then though, did he realize that Sensei Wu had stopped talking several moments ago, and was now looking at him with a expression of amusement. Jay immediately felt his face heat up, a light blush dusting his freckled cheeks as he realized that he'd gotten carried away with his thoughts again. He quickly squeaked out an apology, wishing all the while that he wasn't such a distracted person. This was a terrible first expression, no, second impression for Sensei Wu to have of him.

"It's alright, Jay. I simply noticed that you had gotten distracted, and wanted to be sure that you were listening when I spoke to you again," was the ninja master's calm response, as he gave the auburn-haired boy another gentle smile, his blue eyes kind. The ninja master didn't seem annoyed, or even bothered by the fact that while he was talking Jay had gotten distracted, and he was grateful for that. Though he'd only known Sensei Wu for a short period of time, he had already discovered that the older man was both wise, willing to give his instructions but also kind. There was an aura of leadership, wisdom, and calm that surrounded the ninja master, and Jay already had great respect for him. This time when he began speaking again, the auburn-haired boy gave his full attention to the ninja master as they continued their journey.

"I'm sure that you are wondering what all of this has to do with you, and what part you have to play. You may not realize it, but you are a very gifted and talented person, and you have great potential. Potential that needs to be unlocked over time, as a result of hard work and training, and I have made the decision to help you discover it." Sensei Wu paused for a moment to glance over at Jay, who was still walking by his side. The auburn-haired boy was silent, attentive as he listened to what the ninja master was saying. His blue eyes were wide, and there was an awed expression on his face. He no longer seemed distracted with his own thoughts, just captivated by what was being said. That caused a small smile to appear on Wu's face, and he turned to look back at the faded path in front of them both as he began talking once more.

"You have the opportunity to become one of the students that will train under my teaching to master Spinjitzu, if you should choose to accept the opportunity. It will not be easy work, there will be many challenges and tests that you will face as you train to become a ninja, and are eventually entrusted with the task of protecting Ninjago. You will also have to learn to work with the other students, to train with them and develop a close relationship that will help you to be stronger together as you work together. You will be expected to learn to work well as a team, to dedicate yourself to your training and to work hard even when it's difficult. It will not be easy, but the results will be rewarding."

Sensei Wu paused once more as he looked back at Jay again, as if searching for some sort of response from him. But what sort of response would be appropriate for this kind of opportunity that he'd been gifted? What should he say? The auburn-haired boy's mind was spinning, as he tried to wrap his head around everything. "Are you sure you're talking to the right person?" He blurted out, looking up at the ninja master questioningly. "I'm just a boy from a junkyard who can't even get simple inventions to work, how could I be the right person that you're looking for to become a ninja? I can't do anything, let alone ninja stuff. What do you see in me that seems so spectacular and promising?"

"I see in you great potential, one that you cannot seem to see yourself. You tend to let what others have told you shape the way that you view yourself, instead of embracing the things that make you different from everyone else and becoming your own person. You have many gifts and talents that you could use to serve and help many others, and deep down you have a kind and caring heart, regardless of what anyone has said about you. I want to help you realize your importance, the part that you will have to play, and to help you discover your true potential."

The ninja master's words surprised Jay, having heard nothing like them spoken to him before. His parents had always said that he would do great things one day, and deep down he'd always been scared that he wouldn't, but he had always hoped that he would make them proud one day. But no one had ever spoken to him like Sensei Wu had, and what amazed Jay was how much the ninja master seemed to know about him, and seemed to understand him better than almost anyone else. It was strange how only a few sentences had given Jay a sense of happiness, a sense of hope, and a sense of belonging that he had never felt before. Maybe what Sensei Wu had said was true, maybe he really did have the potential to become a ninja. Maybe this could be the opportunity, the adventure that he had been longing for all of his life.

"I'm ready." Jay was surprised by how quickly he'd spoken those two words, and how easy it was to say them. But they were true, he was ready. No matter what was in store for him in the future. He looked up and into Sensei Wu's blue eyes with confidence, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I don't know why you picked me, out of all the people in Ninjago, but I feel honored to have been chosen." These words were spoken more softly, but with the same amount of confidence and filled with meaning. "I accept the opportunity to begin training as a ninja."

"Excellent." Sensei Wu returned Jay's smile with one of his own, his blue eyes twinkling warmly. He seemed pleased by Jay's answer. It was strange to think that now he wasn't just a sensei, but he was Jay's sensei. And a sensei to the other students as well. That made him suddenly feel excited, and he found himself wondering what the rest of Wu's students were like. Perhaps they were more like him, simple, ordinary seeming people that were different from everyone else. Or perhaps they were different, and already great ninja material. Unlike him.

But whatever they were like, they would be his fellow students and teammates. They would have to work together as a team and train together like Sensei Wu had said, and maybe they would eventually become friends. Jay was cheered by that thought, and promised himself that whatever they were like, he would do his best to be friendly to them from the beginning, and try to and be himself. Very few people had been given the opportunity to see Jay as he really was and get to know him well, but maybe things would be different with the other students. Maybe they would develop a close bond throughout the time that they spent training, and perhaps even one day become good friends.

The warm afternoon sun shone brightly overhead as Jay and Sensei Wu continued to make their way down the path. The auburn-haired boy was quiet for most of the way, content with thinking to himself about a large number of things. His faded blue duffel bag was kept slung over one shoulder, and was occasionally switched to the other one when the bag got too heavy. The scenery was beautiful, green and lush and full of color and life, and Jay was captivated by the things he saw around him. He hadn't lived in Ninjago city, just close outside it for as far back as he could remember, but he and his parents had occasionally visited the city when they weren't out in the junkyard, but they had very rarely gone far enough from the city that they found places like this, with grassy meadows, fields, occasional trees, and wildflowers.

Though Jay wasn't used to such a quiet, peaceful looking place like this that was both beautiful and breathtaking, it was refreshing and an amazing experience to be able to be out here. He could get used to living somewhere like this, and was hopeful that wherever they were going was somewhere nearby. While they walked and Jay was lost in his thoughts, Sensei Wu also remained quiet, his gaze wandering back and forth from the path in front of them as well as the beautiful scenery around them. He must have walked this way many times before, yet even if he had he still seemed to not tire of the view. The ninja master's expression was relaxed, and there was a small smile on his face as he walked.

The peaceful silence that had settled between them didn't last much longer though, as Sensei Wu's attention was suddenly drawn to something ahead of them that caused the smile on his face to widen. Jay, his mind wandering to thoughts of ninja training and what it could entail, wasn't aware of this. But when Wu spoke to him moments later, he quickly turned his attention back to the ninja master beside him. "It appears that there are some people who are eager to meet you." The older man was still smiling as he noticed the auburn-haired boy's confused expression, then gestured to the path in front of them. When Jay looked in the direction that the ninja master had pointed out, he was surprised to see that there were two others not too far ahead of them, a tall boy with dark hair and a smaller girl with blonde hair.

It was hard to tell from how far ahead they were, but they both looked about his age. For a moment Jay puzzled over what Sensei Wu had said, but then he realized that these must be some of the other students, and his blue eyes lit up as a spark of excitement coursed through him. A wide smile spread across his face, and he quickened his pace a little as he continued down the path, eager to meet the others even despite the unworthiness and nervousness that he had been feeling earlier. The older boy waved to them in greeting, and though Jay wasn't sure whether the greeting was directed at him or Sensei Wu, he still found himself waving back. The black-haired boy smiled a little as he looked over in Jay's direction, and the shorter girl walking beside them waved to the auburn-haired boy with a smile as the two quickened their own pace.

Though it felt much longer than it actually was, only several moments passed before the two groups met at the center of the pathway, and Jay found himself still smiling widely as he studied the other students. Up closer the boy was taller than he was, with black hair and chocolate brown eyes. His skin was a little darker than the girl's, and he appeared to be quite strong, with broad shoulders and a body fit and strengthened from hours of training. He couldn't be much older than Jay was, though he looked mature for his age, and while some others might at a first glance call him intimidating, his relaxed posture and the small grin on his face seemed to indicate otherwise.

The girl looked several years younger than he was, and was likely just a year or two younger than Jay. She wasn't much shorter than him either, with crystal blue eyes and golden blonde hair, atop which a crown of flowers sat. Her skin was tan, likely from time spent out in the sun, but was a little bit paler than the boy's. She was standing close to his side, which likely indicated a close bond between them. She looked kind, and like the boy she also looked mature for her age, though there was still an almost childish excitement sparkling in her eyes and a smile on her face as she looked over at Jay. She was the one who spoke first, taking a step toward him with a welcoming smile and a cheerful hello.

The auburn-haired boy's own smile widened slightly as she spoke, and he looked down at her as their blue eyes met for a moment. "Hey!" he greeted, surprised to find that he wasn't as nervous as he thought he'd be. "You must be some of the other students, it's nice to meet you. I'm Jay by the way, Jay Walker." He couldn't help but wonder what they thought about his name, and if they would tease him about it at all.

But the raven-haired boy just smiled in response, taking a small step closer to the other boy. "That's a cool name, your parents must have a good sense of humor." He held out a hand for Jay to shake, and he did so with a smile. The other boy's grip was firm, but he eventually released Jay's hand and stepped back again. "Nice to meet you. I'm Cole Brookstone, that's my sister Lyla." He gestured to the younger girl close to his side with a small smile, then looked back at Jay, who was studying them curiously. They didn't look much alike, at least at first, but that explained the strong bond that the two of them seemed to have. Jay had lost track of how many times he'd wished that he had a sibling.

"Thanks, and they do," he quickly replied. "That's where I've gotten my sense of humor, they always say. It was pretty much passed on to me at birth. It comes in pretty handy when you're stuck working in a junkyard most of the day with no one else to talk to and little to amuse yourself with." Lyla laughed softly as Jay spoke, and a small grin had begun to form on Cole's face, his dark brown eyes flickering with amusement.

"So, you're from a junkyard, huh? Sounds fun." The raven-haired boy chuckled softly, glancing at his sister once more before he looked back at Jay with a grin. "It actually sounds more boring than fun. I wish our life had been more a little bit more boring. Lyla and I were pretty much on our own for a couple years, and we later ended up getting sent to a boarding school once she was old enough, though we eventually ended up running away once Sensei Wu offered me the chance to become a ninja. You're only the second student that he's picked up so far, there haven't been any others yet. My sister actually isn't a ninja in training, she just came along with me since there was nowhere else for her to go."

Jay's blue eyes widened as he gazed over at the siblings in amazement. "Woah, that's actually kinda cool. Not that you guys were on your own, and that you had to run away from the boarding school and stuff is cool, but the fact that you've practically been on an adventure already. I wish my life was that interesting. I've just been living in a junkyard with my parents my whole life, nothing exciting has happened until now."

"I guess you're right, it has been quite an adventure, though it hasn't always been fun." Lyla smiled a tiny bit, tucking a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear as she looked up at Jay. "I'm sure you'll get to go on more adventures now that you're going to be training as a ninja. But I bet living in a junkyard could be fun too sometimes. What kinds of things did you like to do there for fun, or when you had free time?"

Jay smiled a little as she spoke, while Cole and Wu just listened intently at the moment, remaining quiet. No one had said anything about moving on yet, though they had all begun to continue walking slowly down the path, heading off to wherever it was they were going. He'd forgotten to ask that. But they were probably going to a monastery or something, or maybe another place where they would practice fighting and train. But Lyla's question brought Jay's mind back to the present, and a wide smile formed on his face as he thought of an answer for her.

"Well, when I wasn't helping my parents with stuff around the junkyard, or cleaning things or doing chores, I did have a couple things that I liked doing. I love reading comics and playing video games, and sent a lot of time doing that, but I have a couple hobbies too, I guess. I do a little inventing, a dabble in model building, a touch of cooking, a bit of poetry..." He trailed off with a grin when he heard a snicker from Cole's direction and looked over to see that the other boy was looking at him with amusement, his dark brown eyes glittering mischievously.

"Sounds to me like you have a lot of skills, Jay Walker, and not just the potential to become a ninja. I'm sure you're good at fixing and creating stuff, and that you can provide some variety to our conversations with humor and poetry, and I'm sure that Lyla will enjoy your help in the kitchen." Cole's words brought a smile to Jay's lips, much to his surprise, and he found himself chuckling softly in response. Unlike the other teasing that he had occasionally encountered, this was more playful, less hurtful, and the kind that he might expect from an older brother.

"You can laugh about it now," He replied, unable to stop the wide grin that was spreading across his face. "But in the future while you're lifting weights and trying to impress all the girls, I'll be the one who doesn't need to work hard to impress them, with my charming personality and sense of humor, as well as my lengthy list of accomplishments. And in the end, it will probably be my poetry that really wins their hearts."

Cole's sudden outburst of laughter startled Jay, even seeming to catch even Sensei Wu off guard. Lyla was smiling widely as she did her best not to laugh, though she was failing at that as she glanced between Jay and her brother. The auburn-haired boy felt himself laughing too and was surprised by how good it felt to laugh. All of the remaining tension, all of the nervousness that he'd previously felt had begun to melt away, replaced by a sense of warmth, and of belonging. He already wanted to be a part of this small group, and to have a place here with them.

"You know, at first I wasn't sure what kind of students Sensei would be bringing together, and if we would get along or not, but I think that you'll fit right in in no time. A school runway and a junkyard boy, two seemingly ordinary kids destined for greatness." Cole gave Jay a wide smile as he leaned over to playfully pat him on the back, and the auburn-haired boy returned the gesture, a happy grin on his own face.

Cole and Jay spent most of the trip back to the monastery talking about a wide variety of things. Lyla chimed in every now and then or spoke if one of them asked her a question or needed her opinion, but other than that she was content to stay silent, either walking up beside Sensei Wu or falling just behind the small group as she gazed around at the meadows surrounding them. The sun continued its journey toward the west as they made their way along the path, but eventually they made it back to the monastery and began their ascent up the stone steps.

After having already spent a few weeks at the monastery, it was strange to try and picture it from Jay's point of view, and to recall how excited she had been while she and Cole first climbed these steps not that long ago. It felt strange to be here with Jay now, and Lyla couldn't help but wonder how many new students would make their way up to the monastery, following these same stone steps as they began their own journeys. How much more time would they spend here? Would they one day be called to leave the monastery and start another adventure?

"So, uh... how many more steps until we reach the top, and get to... wherever it is we're going?" Jay's voice shook Lyla out of her thoughts, and she glanced back at the auburn-haired boy walking just behind her, still carrying the blue duffel bag and looking a little tired as he stayed close beside Cole. The raven-haired boy didn't appear tired at all, and he had a wide smile on his face as he turned to look at the other boy.

"What, you're giving up already?" He questioned, his dark brown eyes sparkling with mischief and amusement. Lyla bit her lip to keep back a smile, knowing that look all too well. "One of the first things I learned," Cole continued, "is that a ninja never quits. If you can't even make it up the monastery steps without getting winded, then you're going to have a heck of a time getting through the first few months of ninja training."

Jay let out a soft humph of irritation, giving the taller boy at his side a small glare. "I am not giving up; I was just asking how many more steps there are because I'm bored. Even if I happened to be getting tired, it would be for an acceptable reason, as I have been walking for almost the entire day. I'll have you know that I am perfectly capable of getting up a bunch of stone steps, even if they are incredibly long."

Cole chuckled softly as the auburn-haired boy spoke, and he glanced up at the rapidly approaching monastery walls above them before he turned to look back at Jay. "Sounds to me like you're getting tired. But lucky for you, we're rapidly approaching our destination. I hope we have dinner planned, because I'm starving. You probably are too come to think of it, since you've been walking for 'almost the entire day.'"

Jay sighed loudly and shifted his duffel bag to the other shoulder again, keeping his gaze on the steps ahead of them. "Okay, maybe I exaggerated just a little bit. But it doesn't really matter. I'm sure that we'll all be glad to get up there." He paused for a moment, turning his attention to the older man ahead of them. "Sensei, will I get to start training tomorrow? Or are you going to have me start tonight?"

The ninja master glanced over at Lyla, who was walking at his side, and gave her a small smile before he spoke to Jay as they made their way up the stone steps. "You will begin training first thing tomorrow morning. First, there are several small tests that I want you to go through."

"Oh great, tests. I'm good at those," Jay said sarcastically, though he perked up a bit as he played with the strap of his bag. "What kind of tests? Are they super difficult?" Suddenly he sounded uncertain, worried. "Maybe I'm not qualified for them. I'm good at some kinds of tests, well, at least I think I am, but I can't do any ninja stuff. What if I don't pass? What happens to me if I fail?" He asked frantically, blue eyes wide.

Sensei Wu stopped for a moment, turning to face Jay as they reached the top of the steps, the monastery doors just behind him. The auburn-haired boy was anxiously clutching the strap of his duffel bag as if it was his only source of hope as he gazed up at Wu. "Relax, Jay." The ninja master's tone was gentle as he gave the boy in front of him a small smile. "Though the tests might seem difficult, they are actually quite simple, and I am more interested in watching you go through the exercises that I have planned, and finding what skills you have and what things you have yet to learn, rather than making you complete a few tasks and do them well before you are permitted to begin training."

As Sensei Wu spoke, Jay's shoulders immediately relaxed, his body becoming much less tense as he loosened his death grip on the duffel bag's strap. "Well... that's a relief." He chuckled awkwardly, straightening up as he studied the monastery doors in front of them with an optimistic smile. Attempting to help put him more at ease, Cole smiled widely as he leaned over to playfully shove the auburn-haired boy in the shoulder.

"It'll be fine, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll do great. Although, if your first test is anything like mine was, I'd love to be there to see your face when he springs it on you." The look of nervousness that had faded from Jay's face when Cole started speaking had returned, this time mixed with confusion as the last sentence was spoken. The auburn-haired boy opened his mouth as if he was going to ask a question, but that was when Sensei Wu opened the doors, and Cole quickly looked ahead with an innocent expression, a small mischievous smirk on his lips.

Lyla chuckled softly as she glanced back and noticed the expression on her brother's face, also noticing how Jay seemed to be both annoyed and amused by what Cole had said. As Sensei Wu stepped through the doors leading to the courtyard and ushered the three behind him to follow, they quickly obeyed and walked silently inside. While Jay looked around in amazement, studying their surroundings in the fading daylight with an awed expression, the ninja master continued leading the way to the monastery, stopping once they reached the steps.

He turned to give the others behind him a small smile, before nodding slightly as he turned to look at Jay. "I'm sure that you are tired from your travels, so I will not require much of you tonight. Cole will take you to your room, where you may put your bag, then he will show you around the monastery and help you to become more familiar with the place." Sensei Wu smiled a little as he watched the two boys glancing at each other with a smile, excitement evident on both of their faces. Before they could run off though, he quickly gave them one last parting instruction. "Dinner should be ready in an hour at the most, and I expect you both to be there, on time, when we are sitting down to eat."

"We'll be there Sensei." Cole assured him with a smile, quickly prompting a nod of agreement from Jay. The ninja master smiled a little more in response, nodding once more before turning and heading into the monastery, leaving the others on the steps. Once he'd gone, Cole turned his attention to his younger sister, who had begun to start heading in as well. "See you later, Lya. Don't have too much fun without us."

"I won't." She smiled happily, her blue eyes sparkling as she turned back to face her brother. He was standing close by Jay's side, and the two of them had nearly identical grins on their faces and a relaxed posture that indicated how they were at ease with each other. 'Don't have too much fun without us', Cole had said, and it was amazing the amount of meaning that simple sentence held. Lyla wondered if she was supposed to feel jealous of how well the two boys seemed to be getting along so far, how quickly signs of friendship had begun to appear in the mere hour or so that they'd known each other. But she didn't feel jealous, instead felt incredibly happy as she watched the two of them together.

They headed off for a quick tour of the monastery, laughing and talking as they left, and Lyla was struck by the thought of how much they both needed a friendship like this. She'd been alone with her brother for the last few years, and he'd spent so much time taking care of her and so many other things, that he hadn't really had time to develop a friendship with anyone, and he hadn't seemed to fit in with the other boys.

Jay hadn't mentioned any friends, and it seemed like he hadn't had many, if any, over the course of his lifetime. But both he and Cole seemed to have immediately connected with each other, and it made her so happy to see them together. Even if it meant that Cole would be spending less time with her as spent time with Jay, and the two of them focused on their ninja training and protecting Ninjago, Lyla knew she and her brother would always have an incredibly strong bond, no matter what, and it was encouraging to see that he had finally found a friend.